VA Palo Alto Health Care System selects OmniCell for automated supply procurement

Printer-friendly versionPDF version

OmniCell and Commerce One team to provide first electronic commerce solution for the healthcare industry

PALO ALTO, Calif. and WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Sept. 28, 1999 — OmniCell.com and Commerce One today announced that the Veterans Administration (VA) Palo Alto Health Care System has signed a subscription to OmniCell’s Automated Requisition and Procurement Service (ARPROS). As a charter member, the VA will initially provide OmniCell with its supplier information for its cath lab, radiology and OR products. ARPOS is an automated procurement system powered by Commerce One (NASDAQ:CMRC), a leading provider of e-commerce solutions.

The VA Palo Alto Health Care System, one of the largest VA facilities with 961 beds, plans to use ARPROS to streamline its purchasing process, reduce operational costs and enable more strategic procurement planning. Starting with radiology and cardiovascular products, the VA will be able to purchase directly from its suppliers through the Internet. In addition to medical supplies and equipment, the VA Palo Alto will be able to purchase a broad range of goods and services from suppliers currently transacting business through Commerce One MarketSite, the premier business-to-business marketplace portal. The system will eventually be configured to automatically reorder stock from its automated dispensing system when supplies hit the reorder point.

"OmniCell’s automated procurement system closes the loop on the supply chain,” said John Tribuiano, chief of acquisitions and materials management at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System. “We run into many situations that require a 24-hour turnaround on supplies. OmniCell’s procurement system will ensure that this process runs smoothly by acting as a one-stop purchasing department through the Internet. We foresee great time savings by speeding up the procurement process in our healthcare system.”

"Healthcare systems need to get a better handle on the requisition and procurement of medical supplies,” said Shelly Asher, president and chief executive officer of OmniCell Technologies. “OmniCell’s automated requisition and procurement service allows health care organizations to connect directly with suppliers in a secure, private medium. This service automates existing contracts or agreements between buyers and suppliers, creating a process that is efficient, seamless and easy to use.”

OmniCell recently announced a strategic alliance with Commerce One to create an online vertical trading community for the healthcare industry. OmniCell is an affiliate of Commerce One’s Global Trading Web of regional and vertical marketplace portals for business-to-business electronic commerce.

About OmniCell Technologies Inc.

Established in 1992, OmniCell Technologies, Inc. enables healthcare organizations to gain control over their supply chains by providing business-to-business e-commerce services, automated supply and pharmacy product dispensing at the point of use, automated decision support, and an online community for healthcare professionals. Today, the OmniCell Healthcare Network boasts over 1200 customers worldwide. Visit OmniCell at www.omnicell.com.

About Commerce One

Commerce One, Inc. (NASDAQ: CMRC) is a leading provider of electronic commerce solutions that dynamically link buying and supplying organizations into real-time trading communities. The Commerce Chain Solution™ by Commerce One, comprising Commerce One BuySite™ and Commerce One MarketSite™, enables companies to significantly reduce operational costs and increase efficiency by automating the entire indirect goods and services supply chain. As a result, enterprise organizations are able to realize a strategic competitive advantage as well as a rapid return on investment. Commerce One is located in Walnut Creek, Calif., and can be reached by phone at (800) 308-3838 or (925) 941-6000 or via the Internet at http://www.commerceone.com/ or http://www.marketsite.net/.

News Source : VA Palo Alto Health Care System selects OmniCell for automated supply procurement